Bella's driver slammed the brakes, heart racing, as Adrian stood frozen like a deer in headlights—except he looked more smug than scared.
She rolled down her window, glaring. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Adrian adjusted his glasses casually, completely unbothered. "Good morning to you too, Bella. Nice to see you haven’t improved your driving."
She groaned. “Seriously? Of all people to almost hit on the first day…”
He took a step closer, leaning slightly toward the open window. “What can I say? Fate clearly missed me.”
Bella narrowed her eyes. “More like fate cursed me.”
Adrian smirked. “Still not a morning person, huh?”
Before she could throw another jab, a whistle pierced the air. Bella looked up to see the security guard motioning her to pull over. Great. Just great.
Adrian gave a mock-sympathetic smile. “Looks like you’re already off to a fantastic start.”
“Get out of the way, Adrian,” she snapped.
“As you wish,” he said with an exaggerated bow, stepping aside.
As Bella reluctantly pulled to the side and the guard began his approach, she glared at Adrian’s retreating figure.
She muttered under her breath, “If this year starts like this, I’m doomed.”
Bella slumped in the back row of the detention room, arms crossed and fuming. She stared daggers at Adrian, who sat three rows ahead, calmly scribbling in a notebook like he wasn’t responsible for her misery.
Of course he’s in detention too. Mr. Perfect probably asked for extra credit punishment. She rolled her eyes.
The teacher supervising detention was Mr. Harlan, a tired-looking history teacher who clearly didn’t want to be there either. He gave them a half-hearted speech about responsibility and punctuality, then sat at his desk and buried his face in a newspaper.
Bella tried to doodle in her planner but kept glancing at Adrian, who hadn't even turned around once. She hated that. He knows I’m back here. He knows I’m mad. And he’s just... ignoring me?
After what felt like forever, Mr. Harlan muttered, “Bathroom break. No talking,” and stepped out, leaving the room in awkward silence.
Bella seized the opportunity. She stood up, walked up to Adrian’s desk, and leaned over him. “You owe me an apology,” she hissed.
Adrian didn’t even flinch. “For what? Saving your life from a squirrel stampede?”
“You jumped in front of my car.”
“I was retrieving a dropped pen. You were speeding.”
Bella opened her mouth to argue, but Adrian finally looked up at her. “What are you really mad about? The fact that you’re in detention, or the fact that I’m in your class again?”
Her jaw clenched. “Both.”
He smirked. “Still obsessed with me, I see.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. “Still delusional, I see.”
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